Match-receptacle.



Patented Feb. l3, I900. l. H. TAYLOR.

MATCH REGEPTACLE.

2 Sheets-$haet I.

(No Model.)

No. 643,56l. Patented Feb. l3, I900. l. H. TAYLOR.

MATCH RECEPTACLE.

(Application filed Oct. 6, 1893.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

m: uuRms Firms c0. PHOYOAJTHO" WASHINGTON, u. c

NITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

ISAIAH H. TAYLOR, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ALBERT G. DALTON, OF SAME PLACE.

MATCH-RECEPTAC LE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,561, dated February 13, 1900.

Application filed October 6, 1898. Serial No. 692,864. (No model.)

Richmond, in the county of Henrico, State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Match-Receptacles, of

which the following is a complete specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to receptacles for matches that are adapted to eject the matches one by one in response to the actuation of certain operating mechanism provided for that purpose.

The objects of my invention are to provide a receptacle of the class referred to that is adapted to contain a considerable store of matches in such manner as to prevent their disarrangement in the receptacle and to present the matches successively in proper position for ejectment, one which when opened can be reloaded with 'facility, and one which when closed cannot be reloaded or tampered with without demolishing the mechanism except by the owner of the machine or his authorized agent. 5

A further object of my invention is to provide means for preventing the accidental ignition of the match-heads during the ejecting operation.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I is a top plan view of my machine complete, with a portion of the casing broken away to illustrate the match-cells within the case. Fig. II is a perspective view of the subject-matter of Fig. I complete. Fig. III is a vertical sectional View of a portion of my machine, showing the ejecting mechanism in its normal position. Fig. IV is a section on the line IV IV of Fig. III. Fig. V is a similar view to Fig. IV, showing a modified form of ejecting mechanism. Fig. VI is a perspective view of one of the ejecting-cylinders, its shaft, key, and spring, as illustrated in Figs. III and IV, detached.

Referring to the figures on the drawings, 1 indicates the base of my receptacle, which is preferably made of metal, in the form of a hollow shell of suitable size, contour, and of any preferred ornamentation. It is provided with an upright frame 2, which may be cast integrally with it or made as a separate piece and secured thereto. This frame is divided into a plurality of match-compartments 3. Each compartment consists of a narrow kerflike recess formed in the body of the upright of a width and length to accommodate a match of a preferred kind. The transverse extent of the compartment 3 should be a little less than that of the match which it is designed to accommodate, as clearly indicated in Fig. III, in order that the ends of the matches may project clear of the walls of the kerf. The outer ends of the respective kerfs are open,

as illustrated in Fig. I, while the inner ends are preferably enlarged, as indicated at 5, to accommodate the heads of the matches, although that is not essential, it being sometimes preferable to lay the matches heads to tails or in reverse order, as illustrated, for example, in Figs. I and III.

By the employment of the preferred construction, in which the ends of the compartments 3 are enlarged, as indicated at 5, the enlarged ends of the compartments serve as guides to direct the matches in accurate vertical alinement toward the ejecting mechanism hereinafter described.

Although the upright 2 has been described as made of cast metal, that form being for certain purposes preferable on account of the weight and solidity which it gives the receptacle, yet for reasons of economy it is sometimes desirable to make the upright of skeleton formfor example, in separate pieces of sheet metal bent to form the compartments 3, 8 5 with their enlarged ends 5. In that form of construction the sheet-metal walls of the several compartments are arranged separately upon the base 1 instead of being formed of one continuous piece, as illustrated in the go drawings.

The upright 2 is provided with an enveloping case or cover 6, which may entirely cover the upright, if the latter be of skeleton form, or if it be of a solid casting, as illustrated, the case may consist only of a top and three sides, the rear wall 7 of the upright (see Fig.

I) constituting the fourth side of the case when the parts are assembled.

The front 8 of the case maybe made ofglass, if preferred, through which the matches within the compartments 3 may be visible.

I prefer to provide suitable lock mechanism 9 for securing the case to the upright.

Such lock mechanism may be of any ordinary or preferred type, requiring herein only to be pointed out without further description.

Each of the compartments 3 communicates at its lower end with a respective transverse elongated aperture 10 in the top 11 of the base 1, the aperture 10 being of such dimensions as will permit the ready egress through it of matches form the superimposed compart ment.

Underneath each of the apertures 10 I provide suitable match ejecting mechanism. Such mechanism may consist of a longitudinally-grooved roller12, mounted upon a shaft 13 (see Fig. VI) and carried in suitable bearings 14 and 15 (see Fig. III) in the base. A coiled spring 17, wrapped around the shaft 13 and working against the base, serves to hold the groove 18 of the roller 12 in alinement with the aperture 10. Upon the outside of the case a key 19 serves to impart motion to the shaft 13 against the force of the spring 17. By this movement the groove 18 separates the lowermost match from those contained within the compartment 3 and holding it discharges it in the manner indicated by the specially designated roller 20 in Fig. IV of the drawings. During the rocking movement of the roller 12, by which the lowermost match is separated from those within the compartment and discharged, the periphery of the roller holds the remaining matches in position, as clearly shown in the figure last referred to.

21 indicates a lug upon the shaft 13, which, working in a segmental slot 22 in the base 1, serves to limit the rocking movement of the roller 12 under the impulse imparted to the shaft 13 through the keylf). When pressure upon the key 19 is released, the spring 17 immediately restores the roller to its normal position, with its groove 18 in alinement with its respective compartment 3.

Underneath the several rollers 12 I provide a chute 25, which receives matches discharged from the several rollers, and being inclined and extending through an opening in the case, presents them in a tray 26 outside of the case I prefer to make the chute a double incline, so that the incline of the two parts may be sufficiently abrupt to cause the matches to move freely, but without necessitating too great an elevation of the base 1. In this arrangement, which is the preferred form illustrated, two trays 26 are provided upon opposite sides of the case.

In place of the rollers 12 slides 27 may be employed working between the top 11 of the base and supporting-pieces 28, spanning the base underneath the same. The slides 27 are provided, respectively, with elongated recesses 29 corresponding to the apertures 10 in the top 11 of the base. The recesses 29 are adapted to accommodate a single match and through movement of the slide 27 to separate it from the other matches contained within the compartment 3 and drop it over the edge of the support 28, as illustrated in Fig. V. The slides may be actuated, respectively, as by a crank-arm 30, secured to the shaft 31, corresponding to the shaft 13. A coiled spring 32, secured at one end, as indicated at 33, to a lug upon the shaft 31 and at the other to a pin 34 upon the case, may serve to hold the slide in the normal position for reception of the lowermost match from the superimposed compartment 3. The chute 20 in this form of embodiment of my invention is provided at properintervals with recesses 35,within which the crank-arms work.

The case 6 may be provided upon opposite sides with open receptacles 36 for the reception of burned matches; but this is a mere feature of construction which may be employed or dispensed with as preferred.

In operation the case 6 is removed by the owner of the safe or his authorized agent possessing the key to the lock 9. The several compartments 3 are then filled with matches, which may be readily accomplished by holding the ends of the matches and slipping them into the compartments from above. When filled, the cover 6 is replaced and the machine is ready for'use.

To secure a match, all that is necessary is to press upon one of the keys 19, whereupon through the operation of the ejecting mechanism previously described a single match will be deposited in the chute 25 and present ed in one of the trays 20.

It should be noted that the rollers 12, as shown in Fig. III, are shorter than the matches which they are designed to accommodate. Hence the matches guided from the eompart ment 3 through the apertures 10 are presented to the grooves 18 of the respective rollers in such manner that their heads are carried clear of the rollers and are held in that position out of contact with any of the working parts during the rocking movement of the roller. By this means accidental ignition of the matches during ejectment is prevented.

\Vhat I claim is 1. In a match-receptacle the combination with a frame, provided with a narrow kerflike recess,constituting a compartment adapted to accommodate a single row of matches and open at one end and at the top,whereby matches may be introduced into the compartment from above, and, being held at their ends, may be adjusted to required position within the compartment, substantially as set forth.

2. In a match-receptacle the combination with a frame, provided with a narrow kerflike recess,constitutin g a compartment adapt ed to accommodate a single row of matches, said compartment being open at the top and at one end, and closed at the opposite end, said closed end being enlarged for the reception of match-heads,substantially as set forth.

3. In a match-receptacle, the combination with a base and upright provided with a pinrality of compartments, of individual-matchejecting mechanism for each compartment, and a common discharge-chute for the several ejecting mechanisms, substantially as set forth.

4. In a match-receptacle, the combination with a base and upright provided with a plurality of compartments, of an oppositely-inclined chute terminating in trays at opposite ends of the base, and individual-match-ejecting mechanism for each of the compartments above the chute, substantially as set forth.

5. In a match-receptacle, the combination with a frame provided with a compartment adapted to hold matches in vertical aline- W'itnesses:

CHARLES E. RIORDON, JOSEPH L. ATKINS. 

